Cherry Tree Art: Painting With Cooking Paper

Cherry blossom trees are a beautiful subject for artists of all ages and skill levels. There are many ways to paint a cherry tree, from using a simple splatter technique with straws to more intricate methods involving different types of paper and paint. One unique approach is to use cooking paper, which can add texture and a creative twist to your artwork. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced artist, experimenting with different materials and techniques can lead to beautiful and unexpected results. So, let's explore how to paint a cherry tree with cooking paper and unlock your creativity!

Prepare your materials: paint, paper, glue, and a template

To prepare your materials, you will need paint, paper, glue, and a template. For the paint, you can use watercolours, poster paints, or acrylics. The specific colours you will need are crimson red, black, white, primary red, sap green, leaf green, blue, pink, and brown. You can squeeze small amounts of each colour onto a piece of paper or an artist's palette.

For the paper, you can use watercolour paper, black paper, or canvas. If you are making a 3D cherry blossom tree, you will also need tissue paper, crepe paper, or floral wire.

The glue will be used to attach the blossoms to the branches of your tree.

Finally, you can use a pre-printed template to help you create your Japanese cherry blossom painting, or you can create your own template by tracing a circle for the moon and then blending colours outward to create a glowing sky.

Paint the background: a night sky, moon, or natural backdrop

When painting a night sky, moon, or natural backdrop as the background for your cherry tree, there are a few different approaches you can take.

One option is to create a night sky backdrop. Start by painting the sky with dark colours like purple, black, and blue. The sky will generally be darker at the top and lighten as it descends to the horizon. You can add some random sponge marks of colour to create interest and depth. To create a starry night sky, you can use a toothbrush to flick diluted white paint onto your backdrop, creating the appearance of stars. Alternatively, if you're using watercolour paints, you can add small dots of frisket (masking fluid) onto the paper before painting; once the paint is dry, gently rub the frisket off with your finger to reveal the stars. You can also add a focal image, such as a compass, using silver embossing paste and a stencil.

Another option is to create a moon backdrop. You can do this by creating a paper mâché structure using a large balloon and strips of newspaper or toilet paper dipped in starch. Cut slices off a toilet paper roll to create rings for craters, and add texture to the surface by crumpling the toilet paper. Once the structure is dry, paint it with grey and white paint, adding dots, circles, and star-like shapes to create a detailed moon surface. Spray paint can be used to help blend the details and create a more uniform surface.

If you're looking for a simpler option, you can create a moon backdrop using a paper plate and homemade puffy paint made by mixing shaving cream and glue. Paint the plate with your puffy paint mixture, then create craters by dropping marbles onto the surface from different heights. Once the paint is dry, you'll have a clear view of the craters.

For a natural backdrop, you can incorporate elements such as mountains, trees, lakes, or cabins. You can outline these elements with black paint and fill them in, mirroring the reflection in the lake.

Create the branches: use black paint and a template for guidance

Creating the branches of a cherry tree with cooking paper is an enjoyable and straightforward process. Here is a step-by-step guide to help you get started:

Create the branches:

Start by painting the upper branches of the tree using black paint. You can dilute the black paint with water to create shade variations and a more natural effect. Adjust the dilution to achieve different shades of grey, which can be used to depict twists and turns in the branches, adding character and depth to your tree.

Use a template for guidance:

A pre-printed template can provide valuable guidance when creating your cherry tree. These templates are often included with watercolour paint sets and can help you map out the placement of branches, blossoms, and other details.

Techniques for branches:

There are a few techniques you can use to create the branches themselves. One method is to cut floral wire to the desired length for each branch, ensuring that the overall tree will be in proportion. You can also add paper-covered wires to enhance the thickness of the branches and trunk. Alternatively, you can use a straw to blow ink upwards onto the paper, creating a unique and artistic representation of branches.

Final touches:

Once the black paint is dry, you can add brown highlights to the branches for added depth and texture. Use a small, flat brush and dark brown paint, such as burnt sienna, to create these highlights. You can also add texture strokes to the branches and trunk, blending them into the darker colours.

Remember to refer to your template as you work, and feel free to add your own creative touches to make your cherry tree unique!

Add blossoms: use pink and white paint or glue paper blossoms

Now that you have your cherry tree, it's time to make the blossoms! There are a few ways to do this, depending on the materials you have available.

One option is to use pink and white paint to create an ombre effect on paper blossoms. To do this, start by cutting out small squares of paper, approximately 2x2 inches. Then, follow these steps to dye your paper blossoms:

• Mix a few drops of pink paint or dye with about a cup of water in a small bowl.
• Add additional drops of paint or dye until the colour is very vibrant and opaque.
• Take about a teaspoon of your dye-or-paint-and-water solution and put it in a second bowl.
• Add another cup of water to the second bowl. You should now have two containers of dye—one darker than the other.
• Dip the folded end of each paper square into the lighter dye bath first, so that about half the square is saturated.
• Dip just the tip of the folded end of each square into the darker dye bath to create an ombre effect.
• Once the squares have dried, hold them by the dyed, folded tip and cut a rounded edge to make a petal shape.
• Unfold the flowers and peel apart the layers if you have any.

Alternatively, you can create blossoms out of crepe paper. To do this, follow these steps:

• Fold a strip of ivory crepe paper into five sections and cut out petal shapes, making sure the grain on the crepe paper is running vertically.
• Make a centre by folding a strip of pale green crepe paper in four folds, then fold in half and tape together.
• Pinch the base of each petal and tape them to the flower centre with floral tape. Shape the petals gently.
• If you can't find the perfect shade of green paper for the leaves, use some diluted watercolour or acrylic paint to tint them.

Once you have created your blossoms, it's time to attach them to your tree. You can use glue or hot glue to attach the blossoms to the ends of the branches. You can cover the tree with a burst of blooms or just add a few blossoms, depending on your preference.

And that's it! You now have a beautiful cherry blossom tree made with cooking paper.

Final touches: add fallen petals, texture, and highlights

Now that you have the basic structure of your cherry tree, it's time to add the final touches to bring it to life! These steps will guide you through adding fallen petals, texture, and highlights to your painting.

Fallen Petals

Add a sense of depth and movement to your painting by including fallen petals around the tree. Using a small amount of crimson red paint, tint the petals that seem to have fallen from the branches. You can also add a few petals to the ground, creating the illusion of a gentle breeze or a lush, flowery landscape. This simple touch will make your cherry tree appear more dynamic and captivating.

Texture

To create texture and a sense of realism, focus on the branches and trunk of your tree. Using a small, round brush, add texture strokes with brown paint. You can use different shades of brown, such as burnt sienna, to create depth and variation. These strokes can be added to the far right side or the very top of the branches, as well as the main tree trunk. Experiment with the pressure and direction of your brushstrokes to achieve the desired effect.

Highlights

Highlights are essential to adding depth and dimension to your painting. Using a lighter shade of brown, add highlights to the right side of the tree, branches, and trunk. You can also use white paint to create highlights, especially if you're working on a darker background or want to accentuate certain areas. Remember that highlights don't have to be uniform; they can be added wherever you want to draw attention or create a sense of light and shadow.

Extra Blossoms

If desired, you can add extra blossoms to your cherry tree to enhance its beauty and fullness. Using pink and white paint, dip a small round brush into both colours without mixing them. Then, paint dots on the branch tips to create varied and vibrant blossoms. You can also create larger flowers by painting petal shapes with the same pink and white mixture. Don't be afraid to experiment and add as many blossoms as you like!

Final Thoughts

These final touches will truly make your cherry tree painting come alive. Remember that you can always add more details, such as birds, a background landscape, or even a glowing moon, to create a captivating scene. Enjoy the process of bringing your artwork to life and don't be afraid to experiment and add your unique creative flair!

Frequently asked questions